The 3rd external evaluation (monitoring visit) of the LIFE-IP CYzero WASTE Project “Intelligent Monitoring and Effective Waste Reduction in Cyprus” coordinated by the Department of Environment, of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, has been completed with great success. The evaluation took place on February 16, 2024, in the presence of the members of the external monitoring team of the project, Mr. César Seoánez (Project Adviser, European Agency for Climate, Infrastructure & the Environment – CINEA), Mr. Elias Demian (ELMEN EEIG – PROSPECT C&S) and Mr. Jan Vancura (Ernst & Young, s.r.o) and the 17 Partners of the Project.
The meeting took place in the form of a hybrid event.
The evaluation included a presentation of the Project’s progress, which took place at the Journalism Center in Nicosia.
The LIFE-IP CYzero WASTE partners and the external monitoring team had a very constructive dialogue, highlighting the important work that has been done so far, in the first two years of the project, that is also presented in the upcoming 1st Progress Report (Interim Report).
The external monitoring team was informed in detail about the overall development of the Project, but in particular, about the preparatory actions of its first two years and the completion of a large number of Deliverables and Milestones.
A detailed description of the results of the preparatory actions was carried out, as well as the lessons learned by the Project Partners, from the implementation of the preparatory actions so far.
During the external evaluation of the project, the results of the preparatory actions have been summarized in detail, as well as lessons learned by the project Partners, based on the implemented preparatory actions that have been completed so far.
During the discussion, it was pointed out that a number of important implementation actions (C), start with the 2nd phase of the Project. These include: the integrated management of municipal solid waste – Pilot application in the Municipality of Aradippou and the Communities of Kellia, Troulli and Koshi (Action C1.2), the construction and operation of decentralized composting units (Action C1.2), the operation of fifty (50) Green Kiosks for recyclable materials (Action C2), the demonstration actions to prevent the production of food waste and agricultural waste (Action C4.3), the development of marine waste collection and management stations (Action C7), the implementation of economic tools to support the transition to circular economy (Action C8), as well as capacity building with actions such as thematic seminars, forums and distance learning (Action C9) and the establishment of a Coordinating Body for Waste Management (Action C10). Among these, monitoring actions such as the monitoring of the Circular Economy indicators, key economic sectors and value chain on a national scale (Action D2), the monitoring of the environmental impact (Action D3) and the socio-economic impacts (Action D4) are also included.
Subsequently, special emphasis will be placed on Actions E, concerning information and awareness of the general public and the parties involved, to spread the project’s goals, actions and results, to different target audiences through various means.
The LIFE-IP CYzero WASTE project team received several positive comments both for the progress of the preparatory actions, as well as for the preliminary work that has already begun regarding the implementation of concrete actions, in order to achieve the goals that have been set.
The rational management of waste and the transition to a circular economy are already underway!
